It is already 10 days, as the "Environmental Public Alliance" is waiting for a response from the Prime Minister of Armenia on the issue of pumping water from Sevan Lake to Urmia in Iran.
Earlier, IRNA news agency with reference to Iranian MP Ali Alil reported that the water of Lake Sevan will be used for the restoration of Lake Urmia. The MP said in particular of some prior arrangement, and even an agreement with the authorities of both countries that the water will be transferred via pumps.
Despite the fact that Armenia's Nature Protection Ministry denied this information, the "Environmental Public Alliance" and the Armenian Aarhus centers have decided to send a letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan for an official explanation on the matter. As the head of the "Ecolur" NGO Inga Zarafyan said at the press conference of August 25, the letter was sent by e-mail 10 days ago and still ecologists have received no reply. The expert noted that Armenia's water resources are already in poor condition, and thus the restoration of Lake Urmia by Sevan carries serious risks.
Environmentalists are concerned with the situation of Sevan (constant fluctuations of the water level of the lake has resulted in a negative balance), and that is the situation with the rivers of the country as a whole. Zarafyan drew attention to the fact of the annual increase in the number of rivers that fall under the category of the most "unfavorable" - IV and V by the level of pollution. In addition, there is observed the drying of fresh water springs.
"Thus, Sevan is a freshwater lake, has great strategic importance for Armenia," - said Zarafyan.